MLive Bay City Times Game of the Week Jan. 24

BRIDGEPORT – This was the last place Caro expected to get its first win.

Chad Bennett (MLive.com)

After all, the Tigers had not won on Bridgeport’s home floor in 15 years.

But despite its history, despite its 0-6 record and despite its 16-point first-half deficit, Caro found a way to come out on top with a monumental 54-51 boys basketball victory in the Tri-Valley East contest Friday.

“They were a little frantic out there under the pressure because we hadn’t won here in a long time,” first-year Caro coach Dan Bills said. “To come into Bridgeport and beat them here was a great win for us. Hopefully it gives us a little confidence to finish out the rest of the season.”

Nothing hinted that this victory was coming. The Tigers had dropped 26 of the past 28 meetings with Bridgeport, dating back to their last road win in the series on Feb. 23, 1999. And when Bridgeport roared to a 12-2 lead and bumped the margin to 16 points in the second quarter, it looked like business as usual.

But senior Chad Bennett triggered a stunning turnaround with a 20-point performance, including a 3-pointer that gave the Tigers their first lead with 3:30 left in the contest. And suddenly – after six straight losses under their rookie head coach – Caro was in the victory column with a win 15 seasons in the making.

“It’s just a sigh of relief to get that first victory,” Bills said.

Here’s a Slam Dunk look at the high school basketball scenein the MLive Bay City region.

Paul Zwemmer (Courtesy photo)

Player of the Week: Boys

Paul Zwemmer has been tough to stop for the past three years. But this season, the Laker senior looks impossible to contain. The standout post player opened the season with six straight double-doubles, including an 18-point, 21-rebound effort in a 62-47 win over Ubly. He added 24 points in a 63-38 win over Brown City and 16 points in a 60-44 win over archrival Unionville-Sebewaing, completing a big week for himself and his team.

Player of the Week: Girls

Paige Gotham can do it all – and she did while leading No. 1-ranked Reese to a 42-37 victory over No. 2-ranked Sandusky. The skilled point guard scored 15 points while eight steals, seven assists and six rebounds in the win. Her defensive pressure turned the tide in the fourth quarter as the Rockets rallied to remain undefeated. She added 12 points in a 57-20 win over Vassar.

Coach of the Week

Denny Gruber has his team playing as well as anybody in the state. The 20th-year Reese coach confirmed that by leading his top-ranked Class C squad to a 42-37 win over No. 2 Sandusky. Gruber’s program has now rattled off a 54-game winning streak during regular season action and is powering toward a sixth consecutive Greater Thumb West title.

Area Power Rankings: Boys

1.John Glenn (6-2): Bobcats can knock down the threes like nobody’s business.

10.OwenGage (7-0): Meat of the schedule has arrived for unbeaten Bulldogs.

Area Power Rankings: Girls

1.Reese (10-0): Win over No. 2 Sandusky further cements status.

2.Standish-Sterling (9-1): Panthers are doing everything well.

3.John Glenn (7-1): Bobcats just keep getting better.

4.Clare (9-1): Winter and Wezensky mean many W’s.

5.Bay City Central (3-6): Time for Wolves to make a big move.

6.Gladwin (10-3): Flying G’s don’t mind a challenge.

7.Laker (7-3): Lakers are coming on strong.

8.Beaverton (7-2): Defense dominates in two-win week.

9.Arenac Eastern (9-1): Loss to Posen is only bump in road.

10.USA (6-3): Patriots put plenty of weapons to work.

Numbers Game

1: Baskets made by Vassar’s Michael Pratt, who sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer in a 46-43 boys basketball victory over Ubly.

3: Wins for Bay City Western after a 60-35 boys basketball victory over Saginaw Heritage, needing just six games to match last season’s win total.

Chloee King (Courtesy photo)

4: Players to score in double figures for Akron-Fairgrove as Nick Maguire, Jeremy Verhelle, Kyle Aldrich and Drew Huizar all had 11 or more in a 68-62 boys basketball win over Flint International Academy.

5: Players left for Essexville Garber – due to injuries and foul trouble -- as it pulled out a 59-55 double-overtime girls basketball victory over Birch Run.

6: Consecutive shots made by Standish-Sterling’s Chloee King, who finished with 20 points in a 72-22 girls basketball win over Houghton Lake.

24: Points scored in the Delta College gymnasium by Justin Bates while leading All Saints to a 61-46 boys basketball win over Akron-Fairgrove.

55: Consecutive North Star League victories for the Posen girls basketball team after its 41-26 win over Au Gres. Posen’s Korynn Hincka went over 2,000 points for her career in the contest.

Courtside Chat

“It dawned on our players when (Casey Blundell) fouled out that we had no one left on the bench. It was now or never, we had to win it in this overtime, in that situation.” – Essexville Garber girls basketball coach Kim Klein after her team’s 59-55 double-overtime win over Birch Run with five players left at game’s end.